Sealing device for refrigerator cabinets



m 28, 1936. f l. 1.. WISE SEALING DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINETS Filed March 22, 1955 I Ira/ml wage,

Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEALING DEVICE FoR REFRIGERATOR I CABINETS Irwin L. Wise, Chicago, 111., assignor to Sealzit Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 22, 1935, Serial No. 12,388

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-14) This invention relates to scaling devices for reand removed and through which access to the frigerating cabinets such as are commonly emcans is had for removal of their contents. This ployed at soda fountains for dispensing puropening is customarily closed by a cover of any poses, such cabinets being adapted to contain one preferred construction, not shown.

5 or more ice cream cans from which the ice cream My improved sealing device, indicated generally is ladled. by reference character 9, is made preferably The cans are customarily spaced from the surintegrally of flexible elastic material such as cured rounding walls of the cabinet and this space rubber and is shaped to provide a plurality of around the cans is, in the older type of cabinets, openings [I and I2 adapted to receive and snugly packed with ice and, in'the newer type, accomand sealingly embrace the upper ends of the pair 10 modates the refrigerating coils by which the of ice cream cans. I required low temperature of the cans is main- From Fig. 4 it will be apparent that the walls tained. The removal of the cover of the cabinet, l3 u undi th p n s ar of sub a tial for the purpose of ladling the cream from the can, depth from top to bottom and that the walls of 13 exposes the space around the can to the atmosthe openings taper outwardly from top to bottom 15 phere with the result that circulation of air in so as to facilitate the application of the sealing this space is set up which not only diminishe th device to the cans. From Figs. 3 and 4 it will also refrigerative efficiency of the cabinet but also robe appar t tha t s sur u d n a s s motes condensation and the collection of moisture Stantially merge between the Ope s, a diin the space around the can. cated at l4, and that at each side of this point of 20 one of the P y Pu p ses of my present merger the space between the openings is covered invention is to provide a sealing device which will by a connecting web l5 which is substantially seal the upper end of the space surrounding the thinner than the vertical depth of the peripheral can so as to prevent the undesirable air circu- Walls.

23 lation therein, thereby increasing the efiiciency Entirely around the permieter of the device 25 of the cabinet and decreasing the objectionable e e is rm d a ma flange ch 6 condensation and moisture accumulation. tends p y and outwardly from the plane of In accomplishing this result, my invention also the p of t p in s, this fla being ap r d aims to provide a device whi h will form an effrom its base toward its outer edge, as best shown fective seal around the ice cream can itself and in Fig. so that its perimeter 1S Sufliciehtly fi i- 30 also an effective seal with the walls of th s rble to conform to the walls of the chamber surrounding chamber, and in addition, it aims to prorounding the can a effect a Sealing C ntac vide a device which can be easily and quickly therewith. The flange 18 also preferably made applied in position and as readily removed when Wider at one end of the device than at the other 93 occasion requires. to accommodate it to the prevailing contour of Other objects and advantages of my invenpresent day cabinets. To facilitate removal of tion Will be appreciated as the same becomes betthe device from the cans it is pro preferably tel understood by reference to the following det n nd with an i e r l y form d handle or scription when considered in connection with the fi e g p 1. accompanying drawing. In the use of my device, after the ice cream cans Referring to the drawing: have been placed in the cabinet, the sealing de- Fig. 1 is a sectional view through an ice cream vice is positioned by disposing it over the tops of cabinet containing a plurality of ice cream cans the cans and pressing it down into a snug fit and equipped with my invention; with the upper ends of the cans. The device Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown maintains the cans in position and in the case in Fig. 1; of paper cans, prevents their collapsing, forms a Fig. 3 is a plan view of my novel sealing detight seal around each can, and also a tight seal vice; and. with the surrounding walls of the chamber so Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line that the chamber is effectively sealed against the 44 of Fig. 3. atmosphere and circulation of air into and out of 50 Referring to the drawing more in detail, referthe chamber is precluded while, at the same time, ence character 5 indicates generally the cabinet, the dropping of particles of ice cream or other 6 and l a plurality of cans set side by side therein, solid matter around the cans is prevented. When and 8 the opening in the top of the cabinet it becomes necessary to replace the cans, the dethrough which the ice cream cans are inserted vice may be readily removed by pulling upwardly on the handle to detach it from the cans and the chamber.

In case the cabinet be constructed to receive single cans instead of doubles, the sealing device may be modified to comprise a single instead of a double opening, in which case the flexible marginal flange will be of uniform width entirely around the opening.

The details of construction in other particulars may obviously be varied from those shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sealing device for refrigerating cabinet comprising a body formed of flexible elastic material provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, each shaped and proportioned to snugly and sealingly embrace the outer surface of the upper portion of an ice cream can, said openings each being tapered outwardly from top to bottom, said body being provided with a marginal tapered flange projecting outwardly and upwardly around the body and adapted to engage and conform to the walls of the surrounding chamber to provide a seal for said chamber.

2. A sealing device for a refrigerating cabinet comprising a body formed of flexible elastic material provided with a plurality of openings shaped and. proportioned to snugly and sealingly embrace the outer surface of the upper portion of an ice cream can and provided with a tapered flexible flange extending at an angle to the plane of the body around the periphery thereof and adapted to engage and conform to the walls of the surrounding chamber so as to provide a seal for said chamber.

3. A sealing device for a refrigerating cabinet comprising a body formed of flexible elastic material provided with an opening shaped and proportioned to snugly and sealingly embrace the upper portion of an ice cream can, said opening being tapered outwardly from top to bottom, said device being provided at its upper edge with an outwardly and upwardly extending marginal flange, said flange being tapered toward its outer edge and being sufficiently flexible to engage and conform to the walls of the surrounding chamber so as to provide a seal thereofor.

IRWIN L. WISE. 

